Trump threatens Iran could be "taken out" in one night
U.S. President Donald Trump said Monday that Iran could be "taken out" in one night and that night "might" be Tuesday evening, the deadline Trump set for Iran to make a deal and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
"The entire country could be taken out in one night, and that night might be tomorrow night," Trump told a press conference at the White House.
Trump said that Iran is an "active, willing participant" in the negotiations over the deal, claiming that the talks via intermediaries are "going well."
5 killed, 7 wounded in Israeli strikes on S. Lebanon
Five people were killed and at least seven others wounded on Monday in Israeli strikes across southern Lebanon, authorities said, as cross-border hostilities continued between Israel and Hezbollah.
Lebanon's Public Health Emergency Operations Center said an Israeli drone strike on the town of Haris in the Bint Jbeil district killed two people, and one person was killed in an Israeli airstrike in the Hamadiyeh area in the Tyre district.
Another person was killed, and three others were wounded in an airstrike on the town of Berghoz. Israeli forces targeted paramedic teams in the town of Siddiqine in the Tyre district, while they were carrying out rescue operations following a previous airstrike, killing one paramedic and wounding four others.
Trump, top officials detail U.S. operation to rescue airman in Iran
U.S. President Donald Trump said Monday that the U.S. military had used as many as 155 warplanes to rescue the second airman in Iran and was forced to destroy some cargo planes that got stuck.
The pilot was injured "quite badly," Trump said at a press conference at the White House.
"We blew up the old planes," Trump said while focusing on the details of the rescue. He said the planes contained communications equipment and anti-missile technology.
Iran's supreme leader condemns assassination of IRGC intelligence chief
Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei extended condolences for a senior general of the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC), saying that "assassinations and crimes" against Iranian leadership will not halt the country's course.
In a written statement, Khamenei praised Majid Khademi, head of the IRGC's Intelligence Protection Organization, for decades of "silent efforts in the security, intelligence, and defense fields" of Iran.
He also accused Israel and the United States of turning to "terrorism and assassination" after "successive defeats." Khademi was killed in Tehran on Monday in an airstrike claimed by Israel.
Türkiye's Erdogan slams Israel for undermining all attempts to end Mideast conflict
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday slammed Israel for undermining all attempts to end the Middle East conflict.
"The war that began on Feb. 28, unfortunately, continues to claim lives despite diplomatic efforts. The Israeli government continues to undermine all attempts to end the war," said Erdogan while he addressed the nation following a weekly cabinet meeting at Ankara's Presidential Complex.
"By keeping the Al-Aqsa Mosque closed, imposing the death penalty on Palestinian prisoners, expanding its occupation in Lebanon, and constantly harassing its neighbor Syria, Israel confirms and validates through its own actions that it is a country that thrives on tension," he said.
Russia downs 14 drones over 3 regions in 6 hours: defense ministry
Russia's air defense systems destroyed 14 Ukrainian drones over three regions in six hours on Monday, the Russian Ministry of Defense said.
The ministry said that Russia's on-duty air defense systems intercepted and destroyed 14 Ukrainian drones from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Moscow time on Monday.
It said seven drones were shot down over the Belgorod region, six over the Voronezh region, and one over the Kursk region.■
